Xtreme Crush Rage For 1st Loss

L.a. Hammered Orlando 31-6 And Knocked Qb Jeff Brohm Out For The Rest Of The Season.

March 19, 2001|By Larry Stewart, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES -- A day after NBC dropped to a new-low 2.1 overnight rating for an XFL telecast, the Los Angeles Xtreme drew a sparse crowd for what was billed as the XFL's "game of the year" Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The announced crowd was 20,382 -- that's tickets sold. There were maybe 14,000 people in the stands as the Xtreme beat the Orlando Rage, 31-6.

The Rage (6-1) came into the game as the most productive offense in the XFL. It did not score until the fourth quarter.

"This was the first game in which we excelled in all three areas -- special teams, defense and offense," said Xtreme Coach Al Luginbill.

The Xtreme improved to 5-2, retained its hold on first place in the XFL's West Division and now appears to be playing like the team that was the preseason favorite to win the XFL championship.

Luginbill was particularly pleased with the defense, which was ranked seventh among the XFL's eight teams.

"They did a tremendous job today," he said.

Tommy Maddox completed 19-of-25 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns for Los Angeles. He also scored on a quarterback sneak.

Orlando lost quarterback Jeff Brohm on the first play of the second quarter. He sustained a separated right shoulder when he was sacked by Xtreme linebacker Juan Long. Brohm completed five of 10 passes for 46 yards.

Brian Kuklick replaced Brohm, completing 17 of 24 passes for 224 yards and was intercepted three times. He spoiled the shutout by running 3 yards for a touchdown with 10:17 left.

Jose Cortez added 29- and 31-yard field goals in the first half and Saladin McCullough ran 3 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Long punt returns by Damon Gibson set up both of the Xtreme's first-quarter scores. Cortez opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal four plays after Gibson's 51-yard return gave Los Angeles the ball on Orlando's 20-yard line.

Maddox scored on a quarterback sneak three plays after Gibson's 34-yard return put the ball on the Rage 12.

The Xtreme increased its lead to 18-0 on Maddox's 6-yard touchdown pass to Darnell McDonald with 3:26 left in the first half. Maddox also threw an 8-yard scoring pass to McDonald after a 57-yard interception return by Leomont Evans with 1:05 left in the half.

Keyshawn Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who came to watch Xtreme linebacker Herrin Errick, his roommate for one year at USC, said he enjoyed the game.

"Football is football," Johnson said. "Players run, catch the ball, hit -- I don't see anything wrong with the quality of play."

The Rage return home on Sunday to face the New York-New Jersey Hitmen (3-4) in their last regular-season home game at 4 p.m.